Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 304,313,472?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 29 x 9,109
    • or also written as { 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 29, 9,109 }
  • Written in exponential form: 27 x 32 x 291 x 9,1091

Why is the prime factorization of 304,313,472 written as 27 x 32 x 291 x 9,1091?

What is prime factorization?

Prime factorization or prime factor decomposition is the process of finding which prime numbers can be multiplied together to make the original number.

Finding the prime factors of 304,313,472

To find the prime factors, you start by dividing the number by the first prime number, which is 2. If there is not a remainder, meaning you can divide evenly, then 2 is a factor of the number. Continue dividing by 2 until you cannot divide evenly anymore. Write down how many 2's you were able to divide by evenly. Now try dividing by the next prime factor, which is 3. The goal is to get to a quotient of 1.

If it doesn't make sense yet, let's try it...

Here are the first several prime factors: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29...

Let's start by dividing 304,313,472 by 2

304,313,472 ÷ 2 = 152,156,736 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
152,156,736 ÷ 2 = 76,078,368 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
76,078,368 ÷ 2 = 38,039,184 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
38,039,184 ÷ 2 = 19,019,592 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
19,019,592 ÷ 2 = 9,509,796 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
9,509,796 ÷ 2 = 4,754,898 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
4,754,898 ÷ 2 = 2,377,449 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
2,377,449 ÷ 2 = 1,188,724.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
2,377,449 ÷ 3 = 792,483 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
792,483 ÷ 3 = 264,161 - No remainder! 3 is one of the factors!
264,161 ÷ 3 = 88,053.6667 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 3 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
264,161 ÷ 5 = 52,832.2 - This has a remainder. 5 is not a factor.
264,161 ÷ 7 = 37,737.2857 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
264,161 ÷ 11 = 24,014.6364 - This has a remainder. 11 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
264,161 ÷ 29 = 9,109 - No remainder! 29 is one of the factors!
9,109 ÷ 29 = 314.1034 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 29 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
9,109 ÷ 31 = 293.8387 - This has a remainder. 31 is not a factor.
9,109 ÷ 37 = 246.1892 - This has a remainder. 37 is not a factor.
9,109 ÷ 41 = 222.1707 - This has a remainder. 41 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
9,109 ÷ 9,109 = 1 - No remainder! 9,109 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 304,313,472. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 29 x 9,109 = 304,313,472. It can also be written in exponential form as 27 x 32 x 291 x 9,1091.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 304,313,472.

304,313,472
Factor Arrows
2152,156,736
Factor Arrows
276,078,368
Factor Arrows
238,039,184
Factor Arrows
219,019,592
Factor Arrows
29,509,796
Factor Arrows
24,754,898
Factor Arrows
22,377,449
Factor Arrows
3792,483
Factor Arrows
3264,161
Factor Arrows
299,109

More Prime Factorization Examples

304,313,470304,313,471304,313,473304,313,474
21 x 51 x 30,431,347172 x 111 x 1511 x 3,7391304,313,473121 x 3,0371 x 50,1011

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